Elite League Riders’ Championship (Leicester 21/3/15)

[admin]

TOUGH START FOR CHAMP’S DEFENCE (bspa Monday March 09, 2015)

TROY Batchelor faces a tough start to the defence of his Elite League Riders’ Championship title at Leicester on Saturday, March 21.

The Swindon man faces 2012 World Champion Chris Holder, former Grand Prix ace Freddie Lindgren and top British star Chris Harris in a stunning line-up after he was drawn at No.11.

Leicester’s Jason Doyle also faces a tough opener against Grand Prix duo Matej Zagar and Andreas Jonsson and Belle Vue star Scott Nicholls.

The meeting features no less than seven of the 2015 Grand Prix field and six former SGP stars in one of the strongest line-ups the meeting has seen for years.

Alex Harkess, British Speedway Promoters’ Association Chairman, said: “It only seems like two minutes since we were at the end of last season and, here we are, looking ahead to the first BSPA shared event of the year.

“I’d like to thank Leicester Speedway for hosting the meeting, the return of the sport to this city has been a major success and a huge positive for British Speedway.

“They have shown great ambition in their move into the Elite League and I am delighted they have made a success of that move.

“Leicester is ideally located for a meeting of this stature and I’m sure we will see a bumper crowd with fans from throughout the country travelling to see some of the top stars in world speedway in action.”

Mikkel Bech (Lakeside), Niels-Kristian Iversen (King’s Lynn), Bjarne Pedersen (Leicester), Kenneth Bjerre (King’s Lynn), Matej Zagar (Belle Vue), Scott Nicholls (Belle Vue), Andreas Jonsson (Lakeside), Jason Doyle (Leicester), Chris Holder (Poole), Freddie Lindgren (Wolverhampton), Troy Batchelor (Swindon), Chris Harris (Coventry), TBC (Poole), Nick Morris (Swindon), Hans Andersen (Coventry), Jacob Thorssell (Wolverhampton).

[admin]

At least seven FIM Speedway Grand Prix stars compete for the first major European honour of 2015 in the Elite League Riders Championship at Leicester on March 21.

Aussie ace Troy Batchelor defends his crown against Matej Zagar, Andreas Jonsson, Chris Holder, Niels-Kristian Iversen, Chris Harris and Leicester No.1 Jason Doyle.

An eighth SGP racer could still be added to the line-up with Poland’s Maciej Janowski rumoured to be on his way back to Poole. Pirates’ second rider in the meeting is yet to be confirmed.

Five former SGP regulars also feature with Kenneth Bjerre, Hans Andersen, Freddie Lindgren, Bjarne Pedersen and Scott Nicholls also eager to carry off the title.

Danish FIM Speedway World Cup winner Mikkel Bech, Ben Fund Bonanza winner Nick Morris and Swedish starlet Jacob Thorssell complete a star-studded field.

Batchelor lifted the title at his old club King’s Lynn last year in a strong end to 2014, which saw him claim ninth spot in the World Championship.

But he faces some stiff competition from a much stronger field this time around as the SGP elite bid to lay down a strong marker of their form ahead of the LOTTO Warsaw SGP on April 18.

sgp

[admin]

Mar 20, 2015 16:44:20 GMT @lukesignwriter said:

£25 to get in whaaaaaaaaat!!!!!!!!

[admin]

Mar 20, 2015 17:05:13 GMT Bigcatdiary said:

Mar 20, 2015 16:44:20 GMT @lukesignwriter said:

£25 to get in whaaaaaaaaat!!!!!!!!

Utterly ridiculous , I wouldn't pay that if it was staged at Peterborough but Leicester.

Different planet Luke, not hard to see why the sport is in the mess it is.

[admin]

Sort of standard for these type of meetings. £25 is some sort of badge of importance and it must pay or else they'd make it £15 or £20? I'm sure it'll be a success as Leicester seems to be one of the better supported clubs, despite an apparent (not that I've ever been) processional racetrack. It's also their first big meeting since their speedway return. Enough will pay £25.

[admin]

Mar 20, 2015 16:44:20 GMT @lukesignwriter said:

£25 to get in whaaaaaaaaat!!!!!!!!

Not forgetting:

SpeedwayGB ‏@speedwaygb

Tonight's ELRC programme packed with features from Lindgren, Pedersen, Bomber & more. Great read, grab a copy for £4!

[admin]

Mar 20, 2015 20:38:31 GMT admin said:

Sort of standard for these type of meetings. £25 is some sort of badge of importance and it must pay or else they'd make it £15 or £20? I'm sure it'll be a success as Leicester seems to be one of the better supported clubs, despite an apparent (not that I've ever been) processional racetrack. It's also their first big meeting since their speedway return. Enough will pay £25.

Paul Burbidge ‏@ Paul_Burbidge

Crisp, cold evening at Leicester for the #ELRC. Promising crowd building. Let's have some racing! #speedway

[admin]

GP star

Paul Burbidge ‏@ Paul_Burbidge

No points from three for Harris and I'm told he has withdrawn from the #ELRC with a groin strain. Not Bomber's night. #speedway

[admin]

ELITE LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP, Leicester:

Maciej Janowski 13, Niels-Kristian Iversen 12, Jason Doyle 12, Hans Andersen 10, Scott Nicholls 10, Troy Batchelor 9, Chris Holder 8, Fredrik Lindgren 8, Szymon Wozniak 8, Matej Zagar 7, Bjarne Pedersen 6, Kenneth Bjerre 6, Nick Morris 5, Richard Lawson 4, Mikkel Bech 1, Chris Harris 0, Josh Auty (res) 0, Josh Bates (res) 0.


SEMI-FINAL: Doyle, Batchelor, Nicholls, Andersen (f/exc)

FINAL: Doyle, Iversen, Janowski, Batchelor

HOME favourite Jason Doyle held his nerve to claim a memorable victory in a tense Elite League Riders’ Championship at Leicester.

The Lions’ No.1 fended off the Poole trio of Niels-Kristian Iversen, Maciej Janowski and Troy Batchelor to claim a sensational victory in the first major event of the 2015 campaign.

The fast-starting Australian was amongst the leaders all evening in a tight event as the top riders in British speedway did battle.

He narrowly missed out on a place directly in the Grand Final with Iversen edging ahead of him on countback after both finished on 12.
When Doyle then took an awkward looking tumble on the opening bend of the semi-final his hopes looked to be in tatters – yet he dusted himself down to claim an unforgettable win.

Poole man Maciej Janowski had looked well set for victory having reeled off four consecutive wins to top the scorechart on 13 points, whilst Iversen continued his spectacular return from the injury which prematurely ended his 2014 campaign.

However, it was Doyle who held his nerve in a dramatic Grand Final to cap off a fine showing, and the popular 29 year old was in jubilant mood after giving his early season momentum a major boost.

Said Doyle: “It’s a dream come true to finally win an Elite League Riders’ Championship.

“It’s one of the hardest meetings to ride all season, and to beat the guys I did to win the title means a lot to me.

“To make a good start in the final and control it from there was a spectacular moment for myself, and it’s a massive boost going into the 2015 season.”

The meeting proved a wide-open contest throughout, with nine riders claiming race wins over the course of the evening.

Defending Champion Troy Batchelor kept his hopes alive with a classy win in heat 20 to edge into the semi-finals ahead of Chris Holder, Fredrik Lindgren and late call-up Szymon Wozniak.

When Hans Andersen fell whilst comfortably holding second place in the semi-final to gift Batchelor a spot in the Final you sensed it may be his night.

Yet it was his Aussie compatriot Doyle who refused to be stopped as he stormed to a well-deserved win whilst Iversen prevailed in a tight scrap with Janowski to edge second place.

full enedited text, BSPA.

[Deleted]

Mar 22, 2015 8:26:03 GMT admin said:

ELITE LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP, Leicester:

Maciej Janowski 13, Niels-Kristian Iversen 12, Jason Doyle 12, Hans Andersen 10, Scott Nicholls 10, Troy Batchelor 9, Chris Holder 8, Fredrik Lindgren 8, Szymon Wozniak 8, Matej Zagar 7, Bjarne Pedersen 6, Kenneth Bjerre 6, Nick Morris 5, Richard Lawson 4, Mikkel Bech 1, Chris Harris 0, Josh Auty (res) 0, Josh Bates (res) 0.


SEMI-FINAL: Doyle, Batchelor, Nicholls, Andersen (f/exc)

FINAL: Doyle, Iversen, Janowski, Batchelor

HOME favourite Jason Doyle held his nerve to claim a memorable victory in a tense Elite League Riders’ Championship at Leicester.

The Lions’ No.1 fended off the Poole trio of Niels-Kristian Iversen, Maciej Janowski and Troy Batchelor to claim a sensational victory in the first major event of the 2015 campaign.

The fast-starting Australian was amongst the leaders all evening in a tight event as the top riders in British speedway did battle.

He narrowly missed out on a place directly in the Grand Final with Iversen edging ahead of him on countback after both finished on 12.
When Doyle then took an awkward looking tumble on the opening bend of the semi-final his hopes looked to be in tatters – yet he dusted himself down to claim an unforgettable win.

Poole man Maciej Janowski had looked well set for victory having reeled off four consecutive wins to top the scorechart on 13 points, whilst Iversen continued his spectacular return from the injury which prematurely ended his 2014 campaign.

However, it was Doyle who held his nerve in a dramatic Grand Final to cap off a fine showing, and the popular 29 year old was in jubilant mood after giving his early season momentum a major boost.

Said Doyle: “It’s a dream come true to finally win an Elite League Riders’ Championship.

“It’s one of the hardest meetings to ride all season, and to beat the guys I did to win the title means a lot to me.

“To make a good start in the final and control it from there was a spectacular moment for myself, and it’s a massive boost going into the 2015 season.”

The meeting proved a wide-open contest throughout, with nine riders claiming race wins over the course of the evening.

Defending Champion Troy Batchelor kept his hopes alive with a classy win in heat 20 to edge into the semi-finals ahead of Chris Holder, Fredrik Lindgren and late call-up Szymon Wozniak.

When Hans Andersen fell whilst comfortably holding second place in the semi-final to gift Batchelor a spot in the Final you sensed it may be his night.

Yet it was his Aussie compatriot Doyle who refused to be stopped as he stormed to a well-deserved win whilst Iversen prevailed in a tight scrap with Janowski to edge second place.

full enedited text, BSPA.

Love it especially the bit in "bold" lol.